ES2393466A1 - Electrical contact - Google Patents

Abstract

The object of the invention is to provide an electrical contact (1) for a terminal of the "screwless" type which allows connection of electrical conductors (8) both with and without the ends stripped of their insulating sheath (8a) due to the special shape of both their contact wall (9), with the ensuing contact edge (10), and their elastic arm (10) disposed before the contact wall (9) with at least one flexion point (12) and forming an angle (+-) comprised between 0 DEG and 90 DEG between the two ends of said elastic arm (11). Additionally, the aforementioned shape allows extension (a) of the cut made by the contact edges (10), thereby breaking the possible thin insulating film that could appear during the cutting operation.

Description

Electrical contact.

The present invention has as an object an electrical contact for terminal, specifically those of the type known as "without screw" and which allows the fast connection and with complete guarantee of electrical conductors, the essential characteristics of said electrical contact being described below.

STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE.

At present, there are two well differentiated and excluding types of electrical contacts that are used for the connection of electrical conductors by means of “screwless” type terminals, forcing the former to present the end of the electrical conductor devoid of its insulating cover, while the latter have certain cutting elements that, affecting the surface of the external insulating cover and perforating it, allow contact to be established on the core or conductive element of the electrical conductor itself.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to present an electrical contact that allows both different modes of connection of electrical conductors by means of "screwless" type terminals, of the type needed by the end of the electrical conductor devoid of insulating cover and that of the type with sharp elements.

In addition, the shape and design of the cutting area of the present electrical contact improves the cutting of the existing electrical contacts because in addition to making the cut until it reaches direct contact with the soul of the electrical conductor, it widens the cutting area, breaking the possible small insulating film that could appear during the retained cut, thus avoiding possible false contacts.

GRAPHIC REPRESENTATION.

In order to describe in detail the essential characteristics of the electrical contact object of this invention, some drawings are attached in which, by way of non-limiting example, said electrical contact has been represented, as well as various details of its use and application practices. In the rest of the description reference will be made to the aforementioned drawings.

In these drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective and exploded view of a screwless terminal, in which the electrical contact is separated from its housing and with its base at the top, together with the positioner of the electrical conductor to be connected

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the electrical contact, its body being positioned with its base at the bottom;

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the contact housing, positioned somewhat more sideways than in Figure 1, to show certain details of its interior;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the positioner of the electric conductor, seen with a smaller inclination than in fig. 1, to also show certain details of its structure;

Figure 5 is a plan diagram of the contact walls of the electrical contact, showing the position and dimensioning of the angles determined by these walls and their edges, also indicating the input path of the electrical conductor for connection, in this example a electrical conductor whose end is devoid of the outer insulating cover;

Figure 6 is a side section of the introduction of the electric conductor inside the positioner and specifically at the beginning of the connection operation;

Figure 7 is a schematic and plan view of the positioning of the electrical conductor against the electrical contact, according to the previous figure;

Figure 8 is a view corresponding to fig. 6 in the sequence of progress of the connection operation;

Figure 9 is a plan view corresponding to the positioning of the electric conductor, according to Figure 8;

Figure 10 draws the end of the electrical conductor showing the cuts made by the sharp edges of the electrical contact when the electrical conductor is already in the position of Figure 8;

Figure 11 is a view corresponding to Figures 6 and 8 in the sequence of progress of the connection operation and just at the moment the electrical contact reaches the soul of the electrical conductor;

Figure 12 is a plan view corresponding to the positioning of the electric conductor, according to Figure 11;

Figure 13 draws the end of the electric conductor with the cuts made in the position of Figure 11, showing in addition to the growth of the cut the broadening thereof;

Figure 14 is a view corresponding to Figures 6, 8 and 11 in the sequence of progress of the connection operation and just at the final moment of connection;

Figure 15 is a plan view corresponding to the definitive positioning of the electric conductor, according to Figure 14;

Figure 16 draws the end of the electric conductor with the definitive cuts and widenings made by the sharp edges in their final position;

Figure 17 is a plan view according to the positioning of Figure 15, in an application with an electric conductor of smaller diameter than that shown in the previous figures;

Figure 18 is a view corresponding to Figure 16, showing the cuts and widenings thereof made in an electric conductor of smaller diameter, according to Figure 17;

In figures 7, 9 and 12, the displacement of the central area of the electrical contact in the different positions of the electrical conductor when introduced therein has been represented by arrows;

Figures 19 to 22 draw the sequence of introduction and fixation inside the electrical contact of an electrical conductor, in the application variant in which it is devoid, at its end, of its outer insulating layer. In figures 20 to 22 the movement and action of the cutting edges of the electrical contact has been represented by arrows, as the end of the electrical conductor has been positioned;

Figure 19 shows the initial advance position of the connection operation;

Figure 20 is a view corresponding to Figure 19 in the sequence of progress of the connection operation and just at the moment the electrical conductor reaches the electrical contact;

Figure 21 is a view corresponding to Figures 19 and 20 in the sequence of advance of the connection operation showing the beginning of the passage of the electrical conductor through the electrical contact; Y

Finally, Figure 22 is a view corresponding to Figures 19, 20 and 21 in the final position of the advance sequence of the connection operation, showing the clamping pressure exerted by the electrical contact with respect to the electrical conductor.

DESCRIPTION

According to the figures, an embodiment of the electrical contact -1-according to the present invention, comprises two side walls -13-which extend into two elastic arms -11-which have at least one flexion point -12-y each form an angle "0" of value between 0 ° and 90 ° between the two ends of said elastic arms -11-, and which, in turn, extend into each contact wall -9-provided each with an edge which constitutes the contact edge -10-on an electric conductor -8-to be connected.

The side walls -13-are partially supported by one another through a base -17-whose elongated shape reaches the height of the contact walls -9-without being in solidarity with them. In addition, the side walls -13-, in its central area have two -14-concave embossments in the direction of the interior of the electrical contact itself -1-.

On the upper and lower edges of the elastic arms -11- between the flexion point -12- and the contact walls 9-, there are two projections, as horizontal tabs -16- and located at the same height as the drawing -14-.

The contact walls -9-are arranged forming a certain angle "1" between 0 ° and 180 °, concave with respect to the direction of entry of the electrical conductor -8-to be connected, and also the bottom of the contact walls -9- , opposite to the area where the base is located -17-, they are chamfered in the direction of the corresponding contact edge -10- to favor the introduction of the electric conductor -8- between said contact edges -10 which are sharp.

In the practical case of the introduction of the electrical conductor -8- with its insulating cover -8a-, the electrical contact 1-is positioned inside its housing -2-which is provided with lateral openings -3-where it is placed the cable positioner -4-, through its lateral lugs -5- and axis of rotation. Positioner -4-has two circular holes -6a-, in its front part -6-, and -7a-, in its rear part -7-, where the end of the electric conductor -8- is housed and thus perform the rotational embossing movement.

Once the electrical conductor -8-is inserted in the positioner -4-, the two initiate a rotational movement, as shown sequentially in the figures, for the connection of the electrical conductor -8- in the electrical contact -1-.

To improve the introduction of the electrical conductor -8-to the electrical contact -1-, the electrical conductor -8-enters the electrical contact -1-through the chamfered area of the contact walls -9-that guide it to the contact edges -10-. To avoid possible bending of the contact walls -9-in the direction of rotation, the base -17 acts as a stop of said contact walls -9-.

During the rotational movement, once the electric conductor -8-is in contact with the cutting edges -10-, they start cutting -15-to the insulating cover -8a-of the electric conductor -8-, while at its once the assembly formed by the contact walls -9-and the parts of the elastic arms -11-that are between the point of flexion 12-and the contact wall -9-are flexed towards the side walls -13-getting the extension -a-of the cut 15-.

Once the contact edges -10-reach the core -8b-of the electric conductor -8-, the contact walls themselves -9- also flex towards the side walls -13-, increasing the extension action -a- of the cut -15-.

Once the rotation movement reaches the end, the flexion itself accumulated in the elastic arms -11-makes the clamping of the contact edges -10-on the core -8b-of the electric conductor -8-is guaranteed and the Expansion -a-of the cut achieved during the entire rotation guarantees the breakage of possible thin films of the insulating cover -8a- and thus avoid false contacts by said thin insulating films.

In order to house electric conductors -8-of different diameters and with different thicknesses of insulating layers -8a-in the same terminal size, the elastic arm -11-has horizontal tabs -16-that once the electric conductor - 8-to connect is of a large diameter, the horizontal tabs -16-collide with the embossments -14-of the side walls -13-, achieving a greater cutting force in the cutting edges -10-.

In the case of practical application in which the electric conductor -8- is introduced into the electrical contact -1-with its end devoid of the protective cover -8a-, as represented in the sequence drawn in Figures 19 to 22, on the one hand, the presence of the positioner -4-nor that of the base -17- would not be necessary, and, by arranging the contact walls -9-an angle -�-concave in the direction of entry of the electric conductor -8 -, the entrance action of the electric conductor -8-on the contact walls -9-makes the assembly formed by the contact walls -9- and the parts of the elastic arms -11- that are between the point of flexion -12- and the contact wall -9- flex towards the side walls -13-. Once the electric conductor -8-is connected, the flexion itself accumulated in the elastic arms -11-makes the clamping of the contact edges -10-on the core -8b-of the electric conductor -8-is guaranteed

Described sufficiently the object of the present invention, it should be noted that any variation in external dimensions, shape and appearance, as well as materials used in the practical realization of the electrical contact -1-referred to, will in no way alter the essentiality thereof , being summarized in the following claims.

Claims (2)

1st. Electrical contact (1) for screwless type terminal for the connection of electrical conductors, characterized in that it comprises at least one contact wall (9) with at least one contact edge (10) to the electrical conductor (8) to be connected and to the less an elastic arm (11) before the contact wall (9) with at least one flexion point (12) and forming an angle (a) between 0 ° and 90 ° between the two ends of said elastic arm (11). 2. Electrical contact (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises a single contact wall (9) and a single elastic arm (11) before said contact wall (9). 3rd. Electrical contact (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the contact wall (9) is arranged obliquely with respect to the axial axis of the electrical conductor (8). 4th. Electrical contact (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the angle that forms the contact wall (9) and the axial axis of the electrical conductor (8) is concave in the direction of entry of the electrical conductor itself (8) to the electrical contact (1). 5th. Electrical contact (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises two contact walls (9) and at least one elastic arm (11) before one of the contact walls (9). 6th. Electrical contact (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that it comprises an elastic arm (11) before each of the contact walls (9). 7th. Electrical contact (1) according to claims 5 and 6, characterized in that the two contact walls (9) are arranged obliquely with respect to the axial axis of the electrical conductor (8). 8th. Electrical contact (1) according to claim 7, characterized in that the angle () formed by the two contact walls (9) with each other is less than 180 °. 9th. Electrical contact (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the angle (�) formed by the two contact walls (9) is concave in the direction of entry of the electrical conductor (8) to the electrical contact (1). 10th. Electrical contact (1) according to claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the contact edge (10) of each contact wall (9) is sharp. 11th. Electrical contact (1) according to claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the elastic arms (11) comprise at least one projection (16) near the start of the contact walls (9) and such elastic arms (11) they extend at the other end in side walls (13) that comprise at least one drawing (14) concave towards the inside of the electrical contact itself (1) and facing said projection (16) of said elastic arms (11) ). 12th. Electrical contact (1) according to claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the contact area between the electrical conductor (8) and the contact walls (9) when the electrical conductor (8) is connected are chamfered in the direction of the edge of contact (10) and as a stop of the contact walls (9), the electrical contact (1) has a base (17) on the side opposite the chamfered area of the contact walls (9). 13th. Electrical terminal comprising the electrical contact (1) according to the preceding claims. 14th. Electrical device comprising the electrical contact (1) according to claims 1 to 12 and / or the electrical terminal according to claim 13. SPANISH OFFICE OF THE PATENTS AND BRAND Application no .: 201130948 SPAIN Date of submission of the application: 08.06.2011 Priority Date: REPORT ON THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE 51 Int. Cl.: H01R4 / 24 (2006.01) RELEVANT DOCUMENTS

Category

56 Documents cited Claims Affected

TO

EPODOC database in EPOQUE. European Patent Office (MUNICH DE). JP2000133335 A (YAZAKI CORP) Summary, figures 1-7 1-10

TO

US 20011039139 A1 (HERRMANN ET AL), summary; Figures 1 -3. 1-10

TO

WO 0178194 A1 (IDEC IZUMI CORP, MATSUMOTO ATSUSHI), summary; Figures 8, 9, 23,24 1-10

TO

EPODOC database in EPOQUE. EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE (MUNICH DE). JP2001028277 A (NEC TOHOKU LTD) Summary, Figures 1-4 1-4

TO

EPODOC database in EPOQUE. EUROPEAN PATENT OFFICE (MUNICH DE). JP11238533 A (HARNESS SYST TECH RES LTD, SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES), Summary, Figures 1-8 1-4

TO

US 6254422 B1 (FEYE-HOHMANN), summary; Figures 1-7. 1-4

Category of the documents cited X: of particular relevance Y: of particular relevance combined with other / s of the same category A: reflects the state of the art O: refers to unwritten disclosure P: published between the priority date and the date of priority submission of the application E: previous document, but published after the date of submission of the application

This report has been prepared • for all claims • for claims no:

Date of realization of the report 18.05.2012

Examiner R. San Vicente Domingo Page 1/4

REPORT OF THE STATE OF THE TECHNIQUE Application number: 201130948 Minimum documentation searched (classification system followed by classification symbols) H01R Electronic databases consulted during the search (name of the database and, if possible, terms of search used) INVENES, EPODOC State of the Art Report Page 2/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201130948 Date of Completion of Written Opinion: 18.05.2012 Statement

Novelty (Art. 6.1 LP 11/1986)

Claims Claims 1-12 IF NOT

Inventive activity (Art. 8.1 LP11 / 1986)

Claims Claims 1-12 IF NOT

The application is considered to comply with the industrial application requirement. This requirement was evaluated during the formal and technical examination phase of the application (Article 31.2 Law 11/1986).  Opinion Base.- This opinion has been made on the basis of the patent application as published. State of the Art Report Page 3/4  WRITTEN OPINION Application number: 201130948  1. Documents considered.- The documents belonging to the state of the art taken into consideration for the realization of this opinion are listed below.

Document

Publication or Identification Number publication date

D01

JP2000133335 A (YAZAKI CORP)  

D02

US 20011039139 A1 (HERRMANN et al) 08.11.2001

D03

WO 0178194 A1 (IDEC IZUMI CORP, MATSUMOTO ATSUSHI) 18.10.2001

D04

JP2001028277 A (NEC TOHOKU LTD)  

D05

JP11238533 A (HARNESS SYST TECH RES LTD, SUMITOMO WIRING SYSTEMS, SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES)  

D06

US 6254422 B1 (FEYE-HOHMANN) 03.07.2001

 2. Statement motivated according to articles 29.6 and 29.7 of the Regulations for the execution of Law 11/1986, of March 20, on Patents on novelty and inventive activity; quotes and explanations in support of this statement The state of the art document that is considered closest to the invention is D01. In said document, a terminal for making the electrical contact between a cable and said terminal is described, which is provided with two contact walls (7a and 7b) as blades for displacing the insulation of the cable, as it is introduced in the terminal Therefore there are differences between document D01 and the 1st claim of the application under study. Specifically, the contact walls of the terminal developed in document D01 are not elastic and also do not have a flexion point forming an angle between the ends of the contact walls themselves, and therefore this configuration has nothing to do with the one developed in our invention. Taking this into account, the novelty of the 1st claim of the invention would not be questioned nor does it appear that it would be apparent to a person skilled in the art that, starting from said document D01, the invention proposed in the 1st claim of the application will be reached, the inventive activity of said claim not being questioned either. With respect to the rest of claims 2 to 12, which develop the different parts of which the electrical contact consists, since all depend directly or indirectly on the 1st claim, we could say that they would also present novelty and inventive activity Likewise, claims 13 and 14 referring respectively to the terminal and the electrical device comprising the electrical contact developed in the 1st claim, since neither the novelty nor the inventive activity of said contact has been questioned, nor would they be questioned by said document D01 none of the patentability requirements. On the other hand, the rest of documents D02 to D06, which also describe different terminals to perform the function of connection between electrical conductors, but none with the particularity of having elastic arms like blades and performing the function of cutting by simple conductor pressure in the terminal as described in the 1st claim, would reflect the state of the art. Therefore we could conclude that none of documents D01 to D06 would affect the novelty or the inventive activity, as described in claims 1 to 12 of the document presented by the applicant, and therefore the patentability of the invention does not it would be questioned in the sense of articles 6 and 8 of patent law 11/86. State of the Art Report Page 4/4